|
Executive
producer Jerry Walsh's goal was to produce a recording with a definite
Newfoundland. ''feel'' to it, but also allow Joy to show a bit of her
diverse musical tastes.
Joy Norman
‘Lately’
Cape
Shore Lady: This is an original song by Joy and Jerry Walsh, with a
little help from Paul Mills. A fictional love song with a strong Celtic
influence from Joy’s Newfoundland -Irish heritage. The beautiful Cape
Shore area of Newfoundland is where Joy was born and still lives. [Joy
is a Cape Shore Lady!] This song has been chosen for a ‘best of Newfoundland
music’ Homebrew 3 compilation CD to be released this summer and was
number 8 song for 2001 on the local radio music charts. [on CHCM Marystown……
jw]
Ruins
of British Harbour: [Wayne Rostad] Wayne has a popular Canadian TV program
in which he visits obscure and interesting places across Canada. This
is a song Wayne wrote after visiting the abandoned village of British
Harbour on the Newfoundland coast. British Harbour, as well as many
other remote villages, [most only accessible by boat] was abandoned
in the 1960’s. The Newfoundland government at the time forced the residents
to move to larger communities where health and educational services
could be more easily provided. This made economic sense- but caused
terrible cultural hardship for the residents of the tiny communities-
many of who had never traveled outside their local villages, and whose
ancestors had lived in these places for 200 to 300 years. The tragedy
of this abandoned village touched Wayne so deeply that he went back
several years after the song was recorded and buried a copy of his recording
of the song in the graveyard there.
Girl
From Red Island: [J Norman / J Walsh] Many traditional Newfoundland
songs are very sad. Joy and I decided to write a happy song in the Newfoundland
tradition. Joy’s father was born in the now-abandoned community of Red
Island, but this song is purely fictional.
Atlantic
Blue: [Ron Hynes] This haunting song was written after the Ocean Ranger
oil drilling rig sank in the North Atlantic in the 1980’s and many people
drowned. Newfoundland songwriter Ron Hynes is best known for writing
‘Sonny’s Dream’.
The
War Bride’s Waltz: [Aengus Finnan] The true story of a Canadian woman
who’s husband-to-be went off to fight in World War Two. He returned
broken in body and spirit. She carried on her love for him her whole
life, many years after he died. Aengus wrote the song from an outside
observer’s perspective; Joy sings it from the ‘bride’s’ viewpoint.
Lately:
[Aengus Finnan] An award winning love song by wonderful young Canadian
singer - songwriter Aengus Finnan. [ Learn more about Aengus at www.sheltervalley.com
]
Red
is the Rose: [Traditional] [Duet with Aengus Finnan] Aengus and his
family emigrated from Dublin Ireland when he was a child. Joy’s family
immigrated to Newfoundland from Waterford County, Ireland in the early
1800’s. Both Aengus and Joy have the ‘credentials’ to interpret this
old Irish Ballad.
Free
in the Harbour: [Stan Rogers] For many years, young Newfoundlanders
have had to move west to mainland Canada in search of work. This has
become especially true with decline of the fishing industry, which was
the basis of the Newfoundland economy since the 1500’s. This tells of
young people from Hermitage Bay, on Newfoundland’s isolated south coast.
They are travelling west to work in the oil fields of Alberta. The ‘blackfish’
Stan mentions are the Pilot Whales that provided part of the Newfoundland
subsistence economy until whaling was banned. Now, instead of getting
whale ‘oil from the sea’ they will be drilling for petroleum. Joy’s
producer, Paul Mills, was also producer for the legendary Stan Rogers.
Paul accompanies Joy on this song on Stan’s 12-string guitar on which
Stan composed such Canadian classics as this song and ‘The Mary Ellen
Carter’.
Newfoundland
Waltz: [Eddie Coffey] Just a pretty country waltz by a little - known
Newfoundland songwriter.
Old
Maid in the Garret:[Traditional] Joy does this old song ‘just for fun’!
Drummer Al Cross has a ‘world music’ background and a hint of that shows
through.
When
You Say Nothin’ at All [Paul Overstreet / Don Schlitz] This song comes
from Nashville. Joy’s musical taste is quite varied and this and the
next song show some of that variety. A simple arrangement. Country music
is very popular in Newfoundland.
You
Were Meant for Me [Jewel Kilcher] This folk -pop song was a ‘hit’ in
North America for singer-songwriter ‘Jewel’. We gave it a bit of a ‘bluesy’
arrangement.
Let
Me Fish Off Cape St. Mary’s [Otto Kelland] This song is written from
the viewpoint of an old fisherman. He wants to spend his last days and
be buried near Cape St. Mary’s. The beautiful cliffs of Cape St. Mary’s
are about 15 km from Joy’s home. They are one of Eastern Canada’s natural
treasures. The North Atlantic waters here have always been known as
some of the richest fishing grounds off Newfoundland, and the scenery
is spectacular.
The
Southern Cross [Traditional] The true story of a 1912 shipwreck off
the Newfoundland coast. The Southern Cross was returning from hunting
seals on ‘the ice’ along the Labrador coast when she was caught in a
terrible storm. Despite a search, no sign of the ship was ever found.
She went down near Cape Pine, taking 170 young sailors with her. There
have been hundreds of shipwrecks in the wild North Atlantic waters near
Newfoundland. We gave this song a very ‘traditional’ sound.
Grey
Foggy Day [Eddie Coffey] Newfoundland has a very unique cultural identity.
Although many young Newfoundlanders have had to move away in search
of jobs, the urge to return home remains. This is the story of someone
from the Cape Shore who misses both his home and a ‘special person’
who was left behind many years ago.
|
